• The Border Management Authority (BMA) apprehended 28 Bangladeshi nationals travelling from Dubai using fake documents.
• Twenty-seven of them had fraudulent visas and one had no visa at all.
• The BMA recently graduated 400 border guards, who are expected to aid in the control of people coming into and leaving South Africa.
Twenty-eight foreign nationals have been arrested for attempting to enter South Africa illegally.
During an intelligence-driven operation at OR Tambo International Airport on Saturday, the Border Management Authority (BMA) intercepted a group of Bangladeshi citizens on a flight from Dubai.
It found 27 of them to be in possession of fraudulent visas and one with no visa at all.
`The travellers were in contravention of the South African Immigration Act by possessing fraudulent travel documents. The Bangladesh nationals arrived in the country with visitors` visas and were denied entry,` said BMA commissioner Michael Masiapato.
He highlighted the importance of collaborations with embassies and foreign missions in verifying visa legitimacy and encouraged improvements on detection systems.
`I commend the diligent efforts of our immigration officers in intercepting the Bangladesh nationals. The BMA`s vigilance and commitment to maintaining the integrity of our immigration system is exemplary. This operation underscores the importance of our continuous efforts to secure our borders and ensure that all entrants comply with our legal requirements,` Masiapato added.
The BMA said 400 junior border guards were entering the system following their pass-out parade last week. More interceptions are expected across all ports of entry.